De Lima gets Palace confidence on confirmation

MANILA — With the hearing before the Commission on Aponitments (CA) set at June 4, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima gains Malacanang’s confidence on her confirmation.

De Lima’s hearing, which is her first CA hearing, comes amid the pork barrel fund scam currently under investigation by her office, which leads to the plunder charges recommendations made against three senators.

In an interview with state-run Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said that they are confident the justice secretary will not encounter problems during her first confirmation hearing.

“We are confident that Secreretary De Lima will be able to answer all the issues that will be asked of her,” she said.

Despite De Lima’s busy schedule because of the cases related to the pork barrel scam, Valte said that the secretary has already been preparing for the hearing.

Meanwhile, in case of failure to be confirmed by the commission before its adjournment on June 14, De Lima will be considered “by passed.”